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Randolph Union High School

We'll be using this page to highlight all the great things that are happening here -- every day -- as our students prepare for life after RU. So check back often and soon!

Want to contact one of our Department Chairs? You can find out who to contact by clicking on the link in the "documents" box to the left.

Check out the latest issue of our Student Newspaper, The Galloping Ghost Gazette...you'll find it in the "documents" box to the left. You can also check out our 2017-18 "School Profile" by clicking on the link just below it.

RU Students Stage Walk-Out in Support of Safe Schools

More than 150 students walked out of classes on Tuesday March 13 in support of school safety, and to observe a moment of silence and solidarity for the 17 students and staff killed last month at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Senior Amanda Rosalbo and Sophomore Natalie Strand, surrounded by classmates and peers, read off the names of each person killed in the February 14th shooting, followed by a moment of silence. They then read from a list of safety measures they’d like to see implemented at the school to help ensure student safety, and they will submit those measures to the school administration immediately.

A National student walk-out day was scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, however RU Middle and High school are closed for parent/teacher conferences that day, so students held their own protest on Tuesday.

Twelve students from RU will be traveling to Washington DC on March 24 to take part in the March for Our Lives protest to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that [action be taken to] end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools.

Students at Randolph Union High School are currently participating in H.E.L.P. (Heroin Epidemic Learning Program), an eight-10 week youth program designed to educate students on the reality of the opioid epidemic and empower them to make a difference.

The first four weeks of the program are educational and hosted by four different volunteer expert representatives from the areas of law enforcement, medical, family and addiction/recovery.

During the second half of the program, students establish groups and apply what they learn to design and create their own PSA (public service announcement). The PSAs are submitted for review and final edit. The H.E.L.P. committee views and votes on all completed PSAs and one is chosen as the winner. The winning PSA is professionally edited to air on local and national TV.

Last year, the program educated nearly 40 students in Addison County about the ongoing heroin and opiate epidemic in local communities and across the country. The students are tasked with interacting in discussions with volunteer experts and coming up with their own message that they believe is important in combating the heroin crisis. Their final PSAs are also shared with their schools to further spread their prevention message.

The program was created by Jeremy Holm, an actor known for his role in the Netflix TV series, “House of Cards,” who has a home in Vergennes; and Jesse Brooks, the prevention coordinator for the United Way of Addison County. During their time in Randolph, they’re also working with Colin Andrzejczyk, the studentassistance counselor for the OSSD.Holm became interested in the opioid crisis because an actor he knew, Philip Seymour Hoffman, died of a heroin overdose.

“Also, a couple of years ago, I was driving to do an appearance in Stowe, and heard an NPR news interview with the chief of police in Liverpool, Ohio, who was talking about the drug issue,” he said. “Jesse and I began brainstorming about this program in October of 2016. I was in Baltimore shooting ‘House of Cards,’ and got in a conversation with two media salesmen. I told them about the program and they said, ‘There’s no reason why this shouldn’t be in every high school in the country.’

“Our idea was to start small, refine it, and grow it,” Holm added. “Since we started, volunteers have really stepped up to help.”

“We bring in law enforcement officers, an area medical examiner, and a woman who’s been in recovery for four years,” said Brooks, who also speaks about her own experience growing up with a parent who battled a substance abuse disorder.

“Then we bring in Jeremy and he works with them on creating a storyboard in class,” she said. “We also bring in a professional film editor.”

“Jessie and I work with area high school students to teach them about the opioid epidemic from law enforcement, medical, and recovery viewpoints and also teach them the rudiments of how to make a commercial— storyboarding, editing, and shooting a video—and then they make their PSA,” Holm explained last Thursday. “Our goal is get the kids to think about it afterward, too.”

“This is not politics—we’re telling them the truth,” Andrzejczyk said. “People are dying from addiction every day.

“Jeremy and Jesse reached out to the school and wanted to do a project here,” he added. “It was a no-brainer for us, because it fit in so well with our curriculum and our understanding of the opioid epidemic.

“The project here at RUHS is now in week two. Last week, the state police came to the school, this week is storyboarding, and next week, a woman now in recovery will tell her powerful story. After that, Jess will tell her story, then the film editor, Tim Joy, will be here; then Ryan Goodyear (AEMT), and work sessions to make the film.”

“Currently, H.E.L.P. is at Mt. Abraham Union High School in Bristol, Vergennes Union High School, and the Hanaford Career Center in Middlebury,” Brooks said, “and we’re talking to CVU and two high schools in the Northeast Kingdom.”

“No place is immune to this opioid epidemic,” Andrzejczyk said.

“Shiz Kids” – a 26-year tradition – Arrive for week of Learning & Fun The Randolph-Shizukuishi Exchange Program -- one of the longest lasting and most successful of our international exchanges -- began in 1992 when a Randolph native then teaching English in Shizukuishi, Japan facilitated a cultural visit of Shizukuishi students and teachers to Randolph Union High School. Over the next nine years, delegations of junior high students from Shizukuishi and their teachers came to Randolph for a week-long home stay and school visit.

In 2000, the Town of Shizukuishi invited Randolph Union High School to send a comparable delegation to Japan and, by way of thanks for Randolph’s years of hospitality, paid for the group’s expenses while they were in Japan. Since 2000, Shizukuishi students have continued to come to Randolph every winter and Randolph Union High School has sent delegations to Japan every other year, each time raising funds from the community and by applying for foundation grants.

This past January, area families welcomed 10 Shizukuishi Junior High School students into their homes for a week to share family life and culture. And in June of 2018, Randolph Union Middle School students will have an opportunity to do the same. This year’s trip includes two days in Tokyo for a quick exploration of the city followed by a three hour Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Shizukuishi for a week of homestays ending with a couple days spend in Nikko, a World Heritage Site known for its shrines and temples. International studies are an important component at Randolph Union High School, and there are numerous opportunities for students to travel throughout the world as they prepare for life and careers both in and outside Vermont. Like the old Disney song says, “It’s a small world after all…”

Workforce Development UpdateHere are the latest updates on our Workforce Development and Career Pathways Initiatives

GW Plastics, in partnership with Ken Cadow, director of Career Pathways and Workforce Development at RU, graduated its latest School of Tech class this January.

Students traveled to GW Plastics twice a week to learn about advanced manufacturing, including the design and manufacture of medical devices. They were able to take advantage of the expertise of some of the most experienced managers and technical professionals in the industry. The students also experienced first hand the teamwork that contributes to successful outcomes, and they received coaching to help them prepare for their futures, whether it be pursuing college, or entering the workforce, as they approach high school graduation.

The School of Tech is a semester long program open to all high school students in the area who are interested in learning about practical applications of science and math in the advanced manufacturing world. Students learn how to create innovative devices, starting from an idea, while receiving high school credit for the experience.

The 10 studnets who participated in this past semester's program join the more than 50 students who have successfully completed past School of Tech courses since the program's inception in September of 2016.

Calvin Terrell is coming to RUHS Tuesday March 27th, at 7:00 pm.

Parents and Community members are invited to come join a discussion on how we can make our schools and community more understanding and accepting places to learn and grow.

Calvin Terrell is the founder and lead Equity Coach of the Social Centric Institute, an organization designed to educate and train people of all ages to enhance human interactions for global progress.

For more than twenty years, Calvin has led comprehensive workshops for valuing diversity, equity, and justice building in schools, corporations, and civic organizations for thousands of adults, children, and youth throughout the USA.

Calvin is an educator/healer at his core. His techniques are engaging, relevant to all populations, multidisciplinary, and integrate modern advances of technology/research partnered with ancient arts of storytelling and visualization.

We hope you will join us Tuesday March 27 at 7:00 pm in the Murray Auditorium to hear this powerful presentation.

About OSSD

The Orange Southwest School District serves students and families in the towns of Randolph, Braintree, and Brookfield, Vermont. Our three elementary schools provide services to students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Randolph Union High School serves students from grades seven through twelve; and the Randolph Technical Career Center provides technical education services for juniors and seniors from communities throughout Central Vermont.

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